Grants and Incentives
Help for property owners and tenants improving their buildings in Downtown Lakeland.
The LDDA and the City of Lakeland’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) each offer grants and incentives to improve properties in their districts.
LDDA Curb Appeal Grant
The Curb Appeal Grant helps property owners and tenants make storefronts more attractive and Downtown more walkable.
- How much: the LDDA reimburses half of eligible costs. For example, $10,000 of eligible work qualifies for a $5,000 grant.
- Tier 1 (reviewed first): new awnings; sidewalk café furniture, fencing, lighting and permits; sidewalk signs and permits; planters; benches and other storefront décor.
- Tier 2: replacement awnings, façade painting and signage.
- First come, first served, within a limited yearly budget.
- Requirements: the property must be current on property taxes and free of code violations, and the same project can’t also receive a City or CRA grant.
- Timing: awards expire 3 months after the award letter unless you ask the LDDA for an extension. The work must be finished before you’re reimbursed, usually within 10 to 14 business days of turning in your invoices.
Curb Appeal Grant application (PDF). It lists everything to include: photos of the storefront today, detailed cost estimates and, for reimbursement, a W-9, itemized invoices, proof of payment and photos of the finished work.
Questions? Contact Julie Townsend at jtownsend@ldda.org or 863.683.2783.
CRA Grants and Incentives
The CRA’s programs for Downtown are on the CRA website.